Bassetlaw: Mann demands Network Rail bosses are denied large bonuses after numerous accidents and a damning verdict from Parliament

Bassetlaw MP John Mann has called on Network Rail’s shareholders to block bonuses due to be paid to executives following a number of deaths on level crossings, including four-year-old Emma Lifsey, who died in accident on a crossing near Finningley in 2012.

In addition to the accidents, Mr Mann also highlighted this month’s damning House of Commons Transport Select Committee Inquiry Report which found that Network Rail had showed a “callous disregard” to the families of those killed on rail crossings.

Today (Wednesday, 26th March) Network Rail’s public members, who double-up as shareholders, are meeting in London to consider the bonuses, which if approved will see three executives paid a total of £900,000 next week.

But Mr Mann said: “It would be completely unacceptable for Network Rail executives to be paid huge bonuses just a few weeks after they were heavily criticised by Parliament for their attitude to the families of those who have died on level crossings.”

“I called for a parliamentary inquiry into Network Rail following a young girl’s death in Bassetlaw in 2012 because it was clear that hundreds of crossings throughout the country were unsafe, and Network Rail was failing to deal with the problem.”

“I am now calling on Network Rail’s shareholders to cancel all bonuses given to their executives this year, and indeed every year until safety is substantially improved.”

“It would be unacceptable, for example, for the executive in overall charge of safety for the past decade, Robin Gisby, to be paid a £300,000 bonus for simply remaining in post despite this catalogue of failure over level crossing safety.”